Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Headlights going out while driving?

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
    #1

    Headlights going out while driving?

    Greetings,
    I need advice and suggestions on a problem that I'm dealing with. My headlights used to only flicker on and off with the high beams on. Now I've done a little tinkering, and now my low beams are giving me a fit by dimming and then going out while driving, but turn signals continue to work. My uncle tends to think it has something to do with the dimmer switch. I want to hear more before I dig into replacing parts. A tidbit more info about my problem is that it seems the low beams show with no noticeable flickering or dimming when the car isn't running. Maybe I need to go ahead and upgrade to a relay system. Thank-you!
    @Ryan.Madison68
    Tags: None
    #2
    Could be the multifunction switch, or it may be the headlight switch itself. Power feeds through the headlight switch, to the dimmer switch, and then out to whichever circuit is selected. I'd also be giving a good look to the big white connector under the hood near the washer bottle. All of the wiring for the header panel lights goes through that plug, and if its in bad shape you'll have light problems. A more permanant long-term fix is to add a relay harness to take the load off the in-car wiring and boost voltage to the headlights as well.
    86 Lincoln Town Car (Galactica).
    5.0 HO, CompCams XE258,Scorpion 1.72 roller rockers, 3.55 K code rear, tow package, BHPerformance ported E7 heads, Tmoss Explorer intake, 65mm throttle body, Hedman 1 5/8" headers, 2.5" dual exhaust, ASP underdrive pulley

    91 Lincoln Mark VII LSC grandpa spec white and cranberry

    1984 Lincoln Continental TurboDiesel - rolls coal

    Originally posted by phayzer5
    I drive a Lincoln. I can't be bothered to shift like the peasants and rabble rousers

    Comment

      #3
      is this on the box or the whale?

      on the whale, it could be the lighting control module (LCM) as those like to screw up and can cause all hell to all the lights on the car.

      Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. -- Albert Einstein
      rides: 93 Crown Vic LX (The Red Velvet Cake), 2000 Crown Vic base model (Sandy), 2003 Expedition (the vacation beast)

      Originally posted by gadget73
      ... and it should all work like magic and unicorns and stuff.

      Originally posted by dmccaig
      Overhead, some poor bastards are flying in airplanes.

      Comment

        #4
        It is the box. I will check into the multi function switch when I get back. The lights usually only do this within about 5-7 mins driving time.
        @Ryan.Madison68

        Comment

          #5
          in the box, there should be a circuit breaker in the headlight switch IIRC that is the problem. however, short of rebuilding the switch, you'll need to replace it. That breaker is soldered in IIRC. I'll double check when I get home for lunch.

          Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. -- Albert Einstein
          rides: 93 Crown Vic LX (The Red Velvet Cake), 2000 Crown Vic base model (Sandy), 2003 Expedition (the vacation beast)

          Originally posted by gadget73
          ... and it should all work like magic and unicorns and stuff.

          Originally posted by dmccaig
          Overhead, some poor bastards are flying in airplanes.

          Comment

            #6
            I had the same problem with mine and it was the headlight switch itself... mine would turn off and on by them selves with the switch pulled out... put in a new switch and all was good

            Comment

              #7
              heat from current causes resistance... likely a very worn headlight switch which are poor to begin with.

              Comment

                #8
                the light switches suck, but they work brilliantly to operate relays. I got over 2 volts improvement at the headlight socket with my relay rig vs stock. It was like installing new headlights. It got me 2 more years on those low beams, and the factory 1986 high beams were still working fairly well when I finally retired them in 2010 for ones that didn't look all crappy.
                86 Lincoln Town Car (Galactica).
                5.0 HO, CompCams XE258,Scorpion 1.72 roller rockers, 3.55 K code rear, tow package, BHPerformance ported E7 heads, Tmoss Explorer intake, 65mm throttle body, Hedman 1 5/8" headers, 2.5" dual exhaust, ASP underdrive pulley

                91 Lincoln Mark VII LSC grandpa spec white and cranberry

                1984 Lincoln Continental TurboDiesel - rolls coal

                Originally posted by phayzer5
                I drive a Lincoln. I can't be bothered to shift like the peasants and rabble rousers

                Comment

                  #9
                  I had the same problem in 2010. Replacing the headlight switch fixed it, no problems since. I don't have a relay system built in yet but plan on doing that in the future. If yours has Autolamp, I have a couple spare switches that are no good to me as my Lincoln has regular manual headlights. PM me if you're interested in one.
                  Summer car-> 1988 Lincoln Town Car, triple blue, 335,xxx km. New HO 5.0 in and running. Bought 2006/08/22. June 2017 PotM!
                  Winter vehicle-> 1995 Ford F-250 XLT SuperCab 4x4, 284,xxx+km. AKA "Brutus" 460/E4OD/4.10 axles and 12 MPG. Bought 2019/08/14

                  Originally posted by phayzer5
                  I drive a Lincoln. I can't be bothered to shift like the peasants and rabble rousers

                  Comment

                    #10
                    1 on the relay set up. I'm going on 8 years of use in my set up( And 6years on my colony park). My MK6 head lamp switch started flickering and I didn't wanna replace the switch for the cost of a NOS and the yards were dry.

                    Its a simple build or you can plug 'n play with this from amazon.

                    http://www.amazon.com/Putco-230004HW...sim_sbs_auto_1+


                    I used another brand bought I wired mine so I could by pass the set up and go back to stock easily. I keep 2 extra relays in my Glove Box.
                    1989 Lincoln TownCar with Mark VI Front Clip, 3G Alternator, Hella Headlights, Dual exhaust, FlowerMaster 70 series, '90 tubular exhaust manifolds, 1" Phenolic Spacer, Bored out stock EGR Spacer, 60mm HO TB, CVPI Power Steering Box, 18" Niche Alloy's, Monroe Sensatracs.

                    Comment

                    Previous template Next
                    Working...
                    X